The only thing that stops the dust is the rain. It’s a sweet reprieve, but there is no middle ground. The land is either as dry as the Betty Ford clinic, or as wet as the ocean floor. Everything can be seen from the ridge overlooking Armadillo as John Marston gently bounces along atop...

GameRevolution's Top 25 Xbox 360 Games

The Xbox 360 is often referred to as the PlayStation 2 of this generation, which is an incredible compliment that speaks to its massive and diverse game library. As we near the end of this console generation and come ever closer to putting a period at the end of Microsoft's second gaming console, we can't help but look back on the last seven years with so many fond memories. As such, the GR staff decided to put their heads together to compose a list that highlights our top 25 games that have come to the console.

Note: This list reflects the opinions of the GR staff at large. So if you're looking to pick a fight, you better be ready to take on all of us. But be warned, Mr. Bischoff packs a mean punch.

Konami's gothic vampire-heavy franchise has thrived as a 2D sidescroller for many, many years, but has struggled to gain traction in the 3D space—I'm looking at you Castlevania 64. That all changed with the release of Mercurysteam's Lords of Shadow, a game that manages to capture the dark and haunting atmosphere key to the series while injecting fast and fluid gameplay that takes advantage of the current technology. Not only that, but it has a killer story and a jaw-dropping ending that has us waiting on pins and needles for the sequel.

Ever wished you could play a modernized version of Metal Gear Solid in first-person perspective? Look no further, as Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the game you so desperately crave. Stealth action has never felt so immersive and fun; however, the real draw comes from role-playing elements that have been embedded within the experience. Set in a future riddled with biomechanical augmentations, the game's protagonist Adam Jensen is able to enhance his abilities through an RPG-like progression system. It's incredibly rewarding and—more importantly—an absolute blast to play.

While Xbox-exclusive gamers missed out on FromSoftware's brutally punishing Demon's Souls, its spiritual successor brought the painfully difficult experience to the Xbox 360. This sword-slinging action game certainly isn't for everyone, but if you appreciate the tough-as-nails difficulty that defined the retro gaming era, you'll feel right at home with Dark Souls. You'll die a lot, retread the same path for hours at a time, and find the sudden urge to smash your controller on the floor—but hey, that's all part of the fun, right?

When we first heard that Bethesda was redefining the way we play Fallout by turning the franchise into a first-person open world RPG, nearly every gamer on the planet was extremely skeptical. Could Fallout 3 truly serve up a compelling post-apocalyptic world that players would feel inclined to explore? How could a radioactive wasteland not get redundant and boring? Somehow, the dev team managed to pull it off, taking what many love about The Elder Scrolls series and embedding it within the Fallout universe. Oh yeah and the V.A.T.S. system is downright incredible.

CD Projekt's sequel to The Witcher was a graphical showpiece for the PC, so when it was announced for the Xbox 360, there was an understandable level of concern regarding how the game might run. Fortunately the dev team is a crafty bunch of guys, as The Witcher 2 looks absolutely stunning on Microsoft's gaming machine. But visuals aside, this game is easily one of the deepest, most thought-provoking RPGs to come along in years. If you're looking for a deep mature story, full of political intrigue that is coupled nicely with incredible (and challenging) gameplay, you'll find one of the most epic experiences in The Witcher 2.